Maintenance?

[letschat7]

I got promoted to maintenance. I have limited trade skills that amounts to using basic hand tools. How do I learn needed skills fast? Should I go back to uni or study online?

I'm ordering a Bahco tool kit and a Leatherman soon since most of the tools here are missing.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[bigburly912]

What kind of maintenance and what environment? You just can't/don't learn needed maintenance skills fast.

 

[letschat7]

Today I was painting in the past I had only watched some people paint a couple of times and with out a primer or cleaned surface the results weren't so great.

I have to repair some stainless sheet metal soon but i don't weld and have no welder so I'll probably try metal epoxy paste(JB quikweld.) I have to disassemble some machinary and clean it. Sometimes I work around a wet envirnoment with 220V.

They have no training materials or current person in this position that does anything more than milk the time clock. It was suggested I watch some Youtube vids. lol

I think to know some HVAC, electrician stuff, and the like would be good. I wanted this job in the past like 15 years ago. At Workforce they had a job offer for this but it required a lot of experience in a wide range of skill sets.

 

[knucklegary]

Sounds to me like your boss needs to advertise.. "Maintenance Person Wanted"

 

[ABTOMAT]

Today I was painting in the past I had only watched some people paint a couple of times and with out a primer or cleaned surface the results weren't so great.

I have to repair some stainless sheet metal soon but i don't weld and have no welder so I'll probably try metal epoxy paste(JB quikweld.) I have to disassemble some machinary and clean it. Sometimes I work around a wet envirnoment with 220V.

They have no training materials or current person in this position that does anything more than milk the time clock. It was suggested I watch some Youtube vids. lol

I think to know some HVAC, electrician stuff, and the like would be good. I wanted this job in the past like 15 years ago. At Workforce they had a job offer for this but it required a lot of experience in a wide range of skill sets.

Is this a real company or some under-the-radar thing? Some of those skills are often attached to a licensed tradesman in workplaces. Both for practical reasons and liability or code. At the very least they shouldn't be forcing people with no maintenance experience into repairing machinery and mains electricity unless you're apprenticing under someone. I'm not trying to be negative--thinking more along the lines of "man killed in industrial accident, family denied insurance" sense.

If you're gonna teach yourself, lots of Googling, Youtube, books. Figure out specific tasks you'll be doing and learn all you can about it. Don't work on anything unless you're sure you're doing it the right, safe way. Something needs to be welded? They can hire a welder if that capability doesn't exist on site. If a company is pushing you to work on dangerous stuff you're not prepared for, think hard what this is worth to you.

If you're gonna take classes I assume there are tech schools around you somewhere. See if they offer "Introduction to Thing" type courses. Maybe there's a particular trade you're good at and could get an certificate in that'd have more upside than maintenance, too. Guys I know are crying out for apprentice electricians or plumbers or whatever.

 

[knucklegary]

^ ...or farm out repair jobs that require a certified welder.

 

[letschat7]

I work for a real company and pay taxes. It is just there is a shortage of competant workers. This post Covid world is so unusual. Skilled people just don't seem to be around so much and the new generation of workers call off for a week at a time once a month and don't really want to work.

At one point I got 60 hours a week working 5 and a half days a week. I turned down promotions but now someone high up in the company wants me doing maint.

Yeah I wouldn't do anything too dangerous but I would not like to disassemble something and not be able to get it back together correctly.

That said I have seemingly limitedless funds for my flashlight hobby.

 

[thermal guy]

Were you honest with your work upfront? If so they should give you time to pick stuff up. If you were not then they will pick up on that real quick and will probably start looking for someone with more skills. Some of the things you are wanting to learn take quite some time to learn.

 

[ghostguy6]

I'm not sure what the labour laws are like there but you could be in real trouble if something goes wrong and you are not properly certified to do the work. I would seriously look into exactly what you are allowed to do. If you question your abilities it might be best to outsource the job to the appropriate trade.
I know you said you don't need to weld but since you likely will need to in the future I will include this. Welding stainless steel takes some skill and is usually done with a TIG welder. Unfortunately TIG is generally considered to be the hardest to learn. You must make sure to use the correct rod, temperature and shielding gas. If you get it to hot you will burn out the alloys that make it stainless and it will rust. If you use the wrong filler rod it will rust. Also the thinner the metal the less forgiving it is both to burn through and warping. It is also harder to get a good bond with an epoxy such as JB weld. You will need to sand it and clean with a solvent if you hope to stand a chance of getting good adhesion for a long lasting repair. Depending on the repair required you might be better off with just using sheet metal screws or pop rivets.

Mechanical repairs can be very easy to very complicated. I always try to find a technical diagram of the machine first and study it before removing any screws. Quite often there can be safety switches that must be placed perfectly or the machine wont run. There can be parts under tension that will go flying if you don't disassemble them in the right order. Often special tools like spring compressors are required. Remember it is usually much harder to put something back together than it is to take apart. Taking photos of the disassembly can often save your butt.

When it comes to tools everyone has their own preference but be warned ahead of time you will need to acquire lots of them as your skills progress. Tekton is a fairly decent brand that doesn't cost a fortune and has a great warranty. I will say buy quality tools. Nothing sucks more that rounding off fasteners with cheap sockets or worse breaking tools and having to replace them with better ones. I have found that those premade homeowner type tool kits are poor quality and never seem to have what you need. Without knowing exactly what you will be doing you will likely need the following:
- Standard and metric socket set
- Screwdriver set with flat, phillips, torx, and robertson heads
- Standard and Metric allen wrench sets
- Standard and metric wrench sets
- Pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers and vice grips
- cordless drill and drill bits
- tape measure

If you check out Project Farm on YouTube he does great tool reviews.

 

[KITROBASKIN]

You can handle it.
Get them to pay for decent tools you need. Research if required, ask us for fun and possible good solutions.

If someone could get hurt if you make a mistake, tell them to get a licensed AND competent person to do it.

Have fun. Make money, buy a Zebralight SC65c Hi.

 

[orbital]

+

Friend of mine is a maintenance supervisor.
He doesn't have all kinds of certifications, but he can make or fix just about anything.
Kid you not, in the interviewing for his job, he showed all kinds of pictures of things he made or helped build.
The company said 'get to it, jobs yours'

 

[M@elstrom]

I was working in Industrial property maintenance when I was 16, much of the job was pretty much common sense in terms of surface preparation (painting/plastering), skills develop with practice but much can be learnt online (and from tutorials), lastly I would agree with the previous sentiment regarding repairs that "pose a risk" to others (and yourself) and having qualified/certified persons brought in as required (think electrician).

Good luck and BTW collecting tools is "also a thing"

 

[KITROBASKIN]

My nephew moved up through to specializing in HVAC maintenance. He makes a good living.

 

[letschat7]

Were you honest with your work upfront?

Oh yes, I tell anyone willing to listen that I don't know what I'm doing. That said as you do some tasks you pick up on it quick and the internet is a great place to learn. I'm working on gasket replacement now using WIkihow.

 

[knucklegary]

Before you know it you'll be wearing Key brand bib coveralls and carrying a work belt loaded with tools! 👍

 

[Monocrom]

I'm sorry, but this thread is literally horrifying to read. Not kidding!
Yes, you can learn a lot on YouTube.
But, you have no clue what the content creator's qualifications are.
If the individual putting out content even has any.
And, I'm sorry but subscriber count and views mean nothing.
I've literally found self-defense channels run by morons!
Morons with millions of subscribers. Espousing garbage.
Techniques that will get people seriously hurt or killed.
There's a reason why Trade Schools still exist.
Why instructors at those schools are properly vetted.
Nothing against you, letschat7.
Just saying, your boss clearly doesn't deserve his job.
Competent higher-ups don't promote unqualified persons.
Especially individuals who are honest about their lack of certain skills.

 

[letschat7]

Some foreman I'm friends with told me to dress for the job you want. Well now I wear ****ies, Carhartt, and Blåkläder. Needless to say people assume I'm a worker.

I once showed up to a job orientation for this Spanish manufacturing firm with some people wearing jeans with holes, tennis shoes, and other very inappropriate attire. I had work boots, full PPE, and professional clothes. The business was sad that I couldn't accept the job since I can't work Fri evening or all day Sat.

I don't know about a workbelt but I do openly carry a flashlight. Streramlight, Securiled, Led Lenser, Unilite, Maglite, or Suprabeam. Different torch every day.

 

[Monocrom]

Honestly, if something goes horribly wrong, that higher-up is going to blame you. Claim he had no clue what was happening. Especially if it's a liability issue and lawyers get involved.

 

[knucklegary]

Some foreman I'm friends with told me to dress for the job you want. Well now I wear ****ies, Carhartt, and Blåkläder. Needless to say people assume I'm a worker.

I once showed up to a job orientation for this Spanish manufacturing firm with some people wearing jeans with holes, tennis shoes, and other very inappropriate attire. I had work boots, full PPE, and professional clothes. The business was sad that I couldn't accept the job since I can't work Fri evening or all day Sat.

I don't know about a workbelt but I do openly carry a flashlight. Streramlight, Securiled, Led Lenser, Unilite, Maglite, or Suprabeam. Different torch every day.

When you're up on ladders, then work belts come handy.. Just give any sketchy job plenty of forethought before diving right in..
You can always tell upper echelon "we'll need some professional assistance on this repair"
Stay safe!

 

[letschat7]

That is a concern of mine too. It is really a gamble here, like I can end up with a better resume and real world experience but there is an element of danger from inexperience. Everything is on camera here so as long as I'm being safe I feel I should be ok.

But yes there is 220V, chemicals, machines I'm unfamiliar with, and inexperience.

I asked about the machines today and they are going to get me manuels to read.

I'd be happy to go to a trade school but I don't think my state will pay for any further education and it isn't like you can apprentice in a trade so easy here.

I wanted to do an appreticeship in a trade back in 2007 and it ended with me buying outdated Foley Belsaw books and joining a trade forum foreign country. I got a lot of specialised skills but it would have been $100,000 to start up my own buisness working out of an Econovan and the tradesmen in my area went from 4 to 12 or 13 by 2009. Instead I went into landscaping and day labour. I bought all the kit I needed for around 1K and was making the same profit. Jobs that would be 20-30 minutes would be 2-3 hours though with landscaping and day labour was $10 an hour as much as I wished to work.

I kinda missed those days.